Gathering & Rallies

Call for an international commission of inquiry to investigate 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in Iran On the anniversary of the execution of over 30.000 prisoners in Iran in summer of 1988, an exhibition including photos, documents and artistic works was held in the Residence Palace, Brussels on August 30. Human rights defenders, renowned jurists, and European politicians took part in the exhibition. Julie ward, member of European Parliament (United Kingdom) and Professor Eric David, renowned jurist and Professor of International Law at Université libre de Bruxelles were among the participants. Witnesses of the 1988 massacre and political dissidents who have recently fled Iran took part in the exhibition and gave details on the human rights situation in Iran as well as the latest evidence obtained about this massacre. The exhibition took place when more than 20 political prisoners in Gohardasht Prison (West of Tehran) are on hunger strike since July 30 in protest against the intensified suppressive measures in the facility. After four weeks, the physical condition of many participants has become seriously dangerous. They can barely walk and are suffering from heart, lung, and kidney ailments while being deprived of all medicine. In the exhibition, human rights defenders and supporters of the Iranian Resistance called for the formation of an international commission of inquiry into the massacre of political prisoners in Iran in the summer of 1988 and bringing those responsible for this genocide and crime against humanity to justice. They stressed that the issue of human rights should be at the core of the West’s policy on Iran. They urged the UN, EU and the US to put the issue of flagrant and systematic violation of human rights in Iran on top of their agenda. The participants called on all international human rights organizations, especially the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur of Human Rights in Iran, and the Special Rapporteur on Torture to take urgent action to save the lives of hunger striking political prisoners.